Fire-escape



(No Model.)

J. MOORE 8L J. W. BROWN.

. FreKEscvape. No'. 240,162.. Patented VApril 12,1881.

ATTORNEYS.

N.PETEHS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON. D c.

and serving as a blind or shutter.

UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

JOHN A. MOORE AND JAMES W. BROWN, OF WOODVILLE, TENNESSEE.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,162, dated April 12, 1881.

Application led February 12, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN A. MOORE and JAMES W. BROWN, of Woodville, in the county of Haywood and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specication.

The object of this invention is to provide a tire-escape which can be converted into a doorshutter, window-blind, or ladder at will; and it consists ot` a hinged frame from which the lazy-tongs are suspended, and within which they may be closed up by suitable devices to form a blind or shutter, said fire-escape frame being hinged to a door or window frame so as to swing outward and inward, after the manner ot'an ordinary blind or shutter; and it consists, further, of novel devices for adjusting the escape from any lioor of the building to which it is applied.

Figure 1 represents an elevation of the fireescape fully extended and swung at right angles to a building. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the outer face of the fire escape closed, and serving as a blind or shutter. Fig. 3 is an elevation ofthe innerface of the fire-escape closed, Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on line :n x, Fig. 2, of the lire-escape swung and held at right angles to a building. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal elevation of a screw eye or ring for securing the device When closed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the fire-escape, consisting of lazy-tongs A', whose sections are secured together where they cross each other by screw-eyes a, that serve as guides for the operating cord or rope E, and of horizontal cross-bars A2, provided with slots b in their ends, that are secured across the lazytongs A' by bolts or screws @,that pass through the slots b into the ends of the lazy-tongs sections andforln the pivots therefor. Y Said crossbars A? serve as steps for ascending and descending the re-escape, and the length of their slots b determines the distance between the steps.

B is a stout frame constructed with a horizontal top, d, and two depending parallel legs,"

d', and to the top d of this frame B the top of the fire-escape A is centrally secured by an any other convenient manner.

eyebolt or screw-eye, a', or other suitable device, so that said fire-escape A can be hoisted or closed up against said frame B, and thereby form a shutter or blind, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. One leg, d', of the frameB is entered down through eyebolts or hinges f, that are driven into or hinged upon the side of the building C, so that said frame B may swing horizontally.

Pivoted on the under side of the top ofthe Window or door frame C so as to lnove in a horizontal plane, is an elbow-lever, D, to the inner end of which is attached 'a cord or rope, D', that passes over suitable pulleys g, and is extended down through the different floors C2 of the building (l, so as to be within convenient reach ot' the occupants of said iioors C2. The other arxn or" said lever D presses against the inner face of the lire-escape A, so that by pulling down on said rope or cord D the lever D is made to throw the frame B, with its contained fire-escape A, open on the hinges f, as shown in Figs. l and 4, and when thus thrown open the eyebolt or screw-eye a' will automatically engage in a suitable catch, h, that is secured on the side oi' the building C, and the frame and tire-escape B Abe thus held at any desired angle to the building C, for the convenience of those wishin g to descend or ascend by said escape. The portion A is raised and lowered by means of a cord or rope, E, that is made fast at one end about the screweye a and passed down through all the screweyes a around a pulley, i, that is centrally secured on the lower cross bar, A2, then up through the screw-eyes a a and into thebuildin g C, over suitable pulleys k, and down through the floors C2, within convenient reach of the occupants thereof, and is secured at any convenient point. On letting go the rope E, when the frame B is in the position shown in Figs. l and 4, the lire-escape A is extended to the ground, and can have its lower end secured by the engagement of its bottom hooks, m, inv

rings n, that are lixed in the pavement, or in These hooks m on the lower cross-bar, a', of the device also serve to secure anything to that it may be desired to lower from abuilding-as, for instance, an infant in its crib, child in a basket, or an invalid not able otherwise to escape, or any valuable article of furniture. The rapidity of descent will be regulated and controlled by means of the rope E, and by the same means the device will be elevated and closed upward to form a door or shutter, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When raised and closed upward the screw eyes or rings o, that are substituted for bolts or screws c at a point about one-fourth of the way up from the bottom of the device, slide up over the ends of the legs ofthe frame B, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the said tire-escapeA shall be held steady and fast, and be prevented from swinging about.

The screw eyes or rings 0 consist of a ring or eye, fu, through which the legs of the frame B pass when the device is closed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and ot a shank, w, that passes through the ends of the lazy-tongs sections, connecting them together, said shank w being screw-threaded, as shown at x, to hold firmly in the outside section of the said lazy-tongs, and through the slot b of the cross-bars A2, said shank w being smooth, as shown at y, to work loosely in the. inside lazy-tong section and in the slot b. Abeveled nut, z, is secured on the end ot' the shank yw to hold said screweye o in place. For further security when closed, a book or catch, 19, may be secured on the lower cross-bar, A2, and be caught in a corresponding staple, o", in the sill of the door or Window.

This device may be used as a tire escape ladder, a painters or mechanics ladder, and

as a door or window blind or shutter. or a clothes-rack, and when hung as a blind or shutter may be kept from extending by passing the cord D down through the screw-eyes a, and making it fast at the bottom, or by a bar passed down in front and made fast at top and bottom.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the fire-escape A, provided with screw-eyes a and pulley fi, of the operating-rope E, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby said lire-escape is closed or extended, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the fire-escape A and rope E, ofthe swinging frame B,substan tially as herein shown, and for the purpose described.

3. In aire-escape, the combination, with the lire-escape A, frame B` and window or door frame G, ot' the elbow-lever D, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby said fire-escape and frame are thrown open', as set forth.

4. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the lire-escape A, frame B, window or door frame O', and elbow-lever D, of the ropes E D', substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the lire-escape' is operated.

JOHN ALFRED MOORE. JAMES VILLIAM BROWN. Witnesses I. L. HENDREN, S. A. MEDLIN. 

